Bacharach Tests His Songwriting

SOUND CHECK - MUSIC NEWS AND VIEWS

Even if your familiarity with Burt Bacharach extends only to his cameos in the ``Austin Powers'' movies, there is no question you can hum at least three of his songs.

It's as if they have become hard-wired into human DNA, like the ``Grease'' soundtrack has for women reared in the '80s -- somehow, they all know the hand jive. It's uncanny.

Anyway, Bacharach. Just try it: ``Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head,'' ``(They Long To Be) Close to You,'' ``That's What Friends Are For.''

There are dozens more where those came from. Over a career stretching back 45 years, Bacharach has landed 66 songs in the Top 40, including six No. 1 hits and 28 Top 10 hits. He has won Grammys and Academy Awards and counts as rivals only George Gershwin and Irving Berlin for the title of most important pop composer of the 20th century.

For all that, though, Bacharach doesn't spend much time dwelling on the past. In fact, most of a recent phone conversation from his home in Los Angeles has to do with an album he's working on now.

``It's very cutting edge, very much instrumental, but with interjections with singers throughout,'' says Bacharach, who begins a four-night stand at Mohegan Sun casino tonight. ``It's hard to describe, you know. It's in touch with a kind of music I've always felt.''

That's a broad category. Bacharach, who turns 77 May 12, studied classical music as a young man before falling in love with the avant-garde bebop sound of jazz musicians Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk and Charlie Parker. Around that time, though, Bacharach began to have success as a pop songwriter -- ``Promises Promises'' was on the charts -- which marked the end of his classical career.

``It just kind of got decided for me,'' he says. ``Why don't we say, as a classical composer it's very hard to make a living.'' Then, after a pause, he adds with a glint of dangerous humor, ``Maybe I didn't want it enough. How's that, OK?''

Hey, fine here. What he did want was to keep challenging himself as a writer, a trait that hasn't dimmed a bit on his current project.

``I like the challenge of really creating something different and very reflective of the way I feel in my life right now,'' he says.

So, how does Bacharach feel right now?

``Frustrated with the world,'' he says. ``How can we not, you know? Disappointed. Sad. I think my music has always reflected -- I mean, if you're a creator, you write. You're like a sponge, you pick up stuff without even knowing it. And if you're a painter, it comes out in your art.''

Although plenty of his music has dealt with standard pop themes -- love and such -- he says now is not the time for that.

``There are no lyrics on this album that say, `I'm gonna miss you baby when you're gone,''' he says. ```How many nights can I go without you.' It's not that kind of ... I've got young kids now, I've got a 9-year-old and a 12-year-old. It's a different world now.''

Ozzfest returns to Hartford July 17 with a stop at ctnow.com Meadows Music Theater. Alas, Velvet Revolver, a recent addition to part of the tour, is not on the bill here. Instead, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Mudvayne, Shadows Fall, Black Label Society and In Flames headline the main stage. Second stage acts include Rob Zombie, Killswitch Engage, As I Lay Dying and Mastodon. Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. The cost is $88.50 and $68.50 for reserved seats; $38 for the lawn, with a $5 discount Friday.

With a new album on the way, Santana comes to careerbuilder.com Oakdale Theatre June 19, with Los Lonely Boys; tickets go on sale Friday at 4 p.m. for $65 and $55. O.A.R. is there July 29; tickets go on sale Friday at 4 p.m. for $30.

Def Leppard plays Mohegan Sun Arena June 27, with Tesla; tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. for $47 and $37. Tom Jones shares a bill there with Tower of Power July 14; tickets go on sale Friday at 1 p.m. for $30 and $20.

Charlotte Martin returns to the Webster Underground June 7; tickets are $10.

Latter-day string band Ollabelle performs a pair of free shows May 19 as part of Willimantic's 3rd Thursday Street Fest; www.willimanticstreetfest.com for details.